The Grenada gazette., 1887-06-18

OF broken rock, making a pencil
sketch OF two curly-headed boys, twins
in an overaowing cabin where there
were thirteen happy children, every
one with blue of the skies in their
laughing eyes. and the gold of the sum
shine tangled in their hair, that l first
saw Vera Brophy. She was coming
down tho steep, rocky path. with
just light scarf thrown over her
head. its feecy ends floating behind
her, and she paused and stood on tip
toe, looking for some one, one fair
hand shading her beautiful eyes.
"She is looking for u.s." said Dem
MS. in an admiring whisper.
Sure, it's for nobody else, l be-
lieve." said Lanny, a broad smile
overhowing his little round face.
Iraised my finger to enforce silence,
for / feared she would vanish at a
word. when suddenly burst of sweet
song rose on the soft air. To this day
l can not speak calmly of that mo-
ment. The sweet song rose and died
away twice before stirred.
! had heard Miss Roland sing often,
and once this self-same song, but her
voice was artificial and as "thin as
muslin" while these tones rang out
like the notes of a mountain flute, and
the words melted into the tune, until
words and melody seemed one.
''She always calls us with that" said
Lanny, his tiny voice exultant.
Faith. she do," said Dennis, nod
ding. Hasn't she the voice of brd?"
inquired Dennis, searching my face.
Sure it's whole grove of them."
added Lanny.
And when gave them permission to
move, and 1t needed but a glance to do
it, they seized each hand. and
dragged me with them.
Here we are! here we are!' they
both shouted in q breath, "and this is
him with the bread and meat! You
told us he was man in fairy tale!"
A faint flush, like that presaging the
dawn, rose to her lovely face, as l
fastened to introduce myself in q more
regular way.
She smiled and at once told me her
own name. The boys were so eager
that I had to show her the sketch had
just made; and then they begged so hard
for another, with their Miss Vera be-
tween them, to take home to the
mother, that she consented, aud sat
down on a moss-covered stone with
Dennis on one side and Lanny at the
other.
Town that hesitated; could ever
lraw that beautiful face!
Sure, it's not so aisy," said Lanny.
pure fun dancing in his eyes.
'.Her is different from wei" broke
'orth from Dennis.
"Dennisr' said Miss Vera, reproach-
ully.
Sure, l think it's the hunger makes
IS forget the grammar. said Lanny,
With a side look at the lunch box.
At that we both laughed, and as
hey promised me longer sitting next |
lay, and rs many as I needed, put
he materials away and opened the
'ox. the boys easily pcrsu aiding Miss
yera to share with us in the impromptu
neal. ...
Bread and butter never tasted half
o sweet before! We had but one course,
ut it was seasoned with such bright
,it, such sound sense and such good
eeling that to me it seemed feast.
I found out that Vera Brophy had
about her, the summer be-
orc, thirty or forty Of the little chill
rem on that lonely mountain. and
,ught them to read and spell, and this
,mmer they were getting some insight
ito grammar and making faint ap-
reaches to mathematics.
Well. to make long story short,
lade one of the school after that
elieve she called me her assistant.
ut indeed was an eager learner at
er feet.
Day after day, I looked in her blue
yes, reading her sweet lessons OF
nth and patience. until at length
we crowned my good ondeavors.
but would you take q poor girl
ON these Irish hills to your home
cross the seas?" she said shyly, one
~, q month later.
..Sure, I would II I could get her,
Lanny would say" I added. laugh
g. i
And then she told mo the secret OF
,r work. 1t was all labor of love,
he had q small competence, but she
AZ alone in the world. and for the
ye of her own little countrymen she
- tvyA asNsoN- |